Chapter 3 (Part Three)

I felt this couldn't go on, so one evening, exhausted, I asked him, "You're busy with classes and student council, how can you find time to run with me every day?"

Without hesitating, he replied, "Didn't you ask me to?"

"Huh?"

"That day at the basketball court, didn't you buy me a drink and ask me to help you with the tryouts?"

Oh, Hanson, you literal-minded man!

Was that what I meant? News to me!

Seeing my frustration, he finally smiled. "Actually, I asked you. I get bored running alone every night, so please keep me company."

That sounded more reasonable.

Thanks to Hanson's rigorous training, I scored excellently in the tryouts.

Just as I was considering buying him a gift to show my gratitude, I received a gift from him first.

It was a much smaller box than the thermos – one that felt surprisingly heavy.

Inside were pink dumbbells, probably chosen to suit my gender, along with a printed note: "Stay fit and never slack off."

Wasn't he the one who called me athletic just the other day?

Suddenly, my desire to reciprocate the gesture vanished.

Rumors started circulating within the student council: Hanson was dating Carrie Sullivan, the Event Planning Committee's vice president.

Apparently, someone spotted them on a date outside the movie theater, with Hanson holding a little stuffed toy.

I mean, movie theaters are indeed the typical dimly lit date spots for couples.

I tried to keep my jealousy in check, putting on a cheerful front while internally cursing Hanson a good hundred times.

That jerk – casting his net wide! What a player!

Pretending to "flirt" with me while having a girlfriend… some nerve!

Later that evening, I happened to see Hanson walking in from the campus gate with Carrie. My mood took a nosedive, and I quickly turned away, pretending not to notice.

Carrie was cheerfully calling after me, though, "Isn't that Kristen? Hey, Kristen!"

Forced to stop, I gave them a half-hearted wave. "Oh, hey, you two. What a coincidence."

I quickly turned to make my escape, but just as I was about to leave, Hanson tugged on the hood of my jacket.

"In a rush to go somewhere?"

He was pulling on my hood right in front of his girlfriend! Did he have no sense of boundaries?

Feeling more miserable than ever, I didn't even bother with pleasantries and replied with an annoyed, "Bathroom emergency!"

I took a few steps forward when I noticed someone following me.

"Where's Carrie?"

"She went back to her dorm."

Then why didn't he go back too? Why was he following me?

Once we reached my dorm building, Hanson handed me a bag. "Got this for you."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. He nudged me forward. "Didn't you say it was urgent? Go on in, then."

I peeked into the bag, and there it was – a sad, rather ugly frog plushie.

Wasn't this the toy he had with him on the so-called date? Why was he offering it to me?

I shot Hanson a message, and his reply came back, "It reminded me of you, so I bought it."

Reminded him of me? That ugly frog?

Later, Carrie came to my dorm for a visit and spotted the frog on my bed. She seemed surprised. "Isn't this the one Hanson won? He actually gave it to you?"

I replied with an "Uh…" not fully sure of the situation.

Carrie explained, "I ran into him the other day at the arcade. He was playing one of those claw games, and I asked him what he was doing. He said he was getting it for some girl."

Then, with a knowing look, she added, "So, turns out you're that girl."

My cheeks turned red. I could hardly picture Hanson, usually so serious, standing at a claw game, totally expressionless, trying to win a stuffed toy.

Worried that Carrie might get the wrong idea, I tried to explain, but she quickly clarified that they weren't a couple. That day's encounter had been pure coincidence.

The misunderstanding made me realize my own feelings for Hanson even more clearly.

After that, my roommate insisted that I should take the initiative. "You should ask Hanson to a movie. See how he reacts."

Sometimes, you just have to be brave for love.

So, using all the "gifts" he had given me as an excuse, I invited him to a movie as a thank-you.

To my surprise, he agreed.

The entire dorm turned into my personal styling team that evening – one roommate picked out a dress, another did my makeup, and someone else styled my hair. It was now or never!

When I finally stepped out, dressed in a little skirt and heels, with a hint of glam, I saw Hanson leaning casually against a tree outside the dorm in a simple white shirt and jeans.

The sight was so charming that I almost didn't want to break the moment.

Hanson walked over to me, eyeing me closely. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

"Huh?"

He leaned in suddenly, his gaze zeroed in on my eyes.

I felt shy, lowering my gaze as my eyelashes fluttered.

"You've got a bit of a dark circle here." He pointed just under my eye. "Didn't get enough sleep, or… did someone hit you?"

Even once we were seated in the theater, his question kept echoing in my head.

Did someone hit you?

I picked a popular romantic movie, full of tender kisses, warm embraces, and heartfelt scenes.

In my imagination, it would be the perfect setup for two people with mutual feelings – sharing tissues during the tear-jerker moments, fingers brushing, maybe even holding hands by the end.

Finally, the first romantic kiss scene arrived.

My cheeks warmed, and I sneaked a glance at Hanson to see his reaction – only to find that he had fallen asleep.

Yes, actually asleep.

The popcorn bucket was even tipping in my direction, and his eyes were completely closed, no sound, nothing.

I smirked and proceeded to finish all the popcorn myself.

When the movie ended, and we flowed out with the crowd, I asked him casually, "So, how did you like the movie?"

He looked a bit confused. "It was pretty good."

Not giving up, I pressed on, "What part did you find the most memorable?"

After a pause, he replied, "You eating that entire extra-large popcorn by yourself."

Then, looking genuinely puzzled, he added, "Doesn't that make you feel stuffed?"

Does love just make you mad?

Or was I the only one with this ridiculous crush on Hanson?